South Australian Consolidated Acts South Australian Consolidated Acts41A—Resolution of disputes etc
(1) An application may
be made under this section—
(a) if a
strata corporation or a member of a strata corporation claims that a breach of
this Act or of the articles of the corporation has occurred; or
(b) if a
member of a strata corporation claims to have been prejudiced, as occupier of
a strata unit, by the wrongful act or default of the strata corporation, of
the management committee of the strata corporation, or of some other member of
the strata corporation; or
(c) if a
member of a strata corporation claims that a decision of the
strata corporation or of the management committee of the strata corporation is
unreasonable, oppressive or unjust; or
(d) if a
dispute arises—
(i)
between a strata corporation and a member of the
corporation; or
(ii)
between two or more members of a strata corporation,
in relation to any aspect of the occupation or use of a strata unit.
(2) Subject to this
section, an application must be made to the Magistrates Court.
(3) A person may, with
the permission of the District Court, bring an application under this section
in the District Court.
(4) The District Court
may, on the application of a party to proceedings under this section that have
been commenced in the Magistrates Court, order that the proceedings be
transferred to the District Court (and such an order will have effect
according to its terms).
(5) Proceedings should
not be commenced in, or transferred to, the District Court under
subsections (3) or (4) unless the District Court considers that it is
appropriate for the court to deal with the matter by reason of the complexity
or significance of the matter.
(6) A court may, on
its own initiative or on an application by a party to the proceedings—
(a)
transfer an application under this section to the Supreme Court on the ground
that the application raises a matter of general importance; or
(b)
state a question of law for the opinion of the Supreme Court.
(7) A court, in
hearing and determining an application under this section, should act
according to equity, good conscience and the substantial merits of the case,
without regard to technicalities and legal forms, and is not bound by the
rules of evidence but may inform itself on any matter in such manner as it
thinks fit.
(8) A member of a
strata corporation duly appointed by the corporation for the purpose may
represent the corporation in any proceedings under this section.
(9) A court may, in
respect of an application under this section—
(a)
attempt to achieve settlement of the proceedings by agreement between the
parties;
(b)
require a party to provide reports or other information for the purposes of
the proceedings;
(c)
order that a party take such action as in the opinion of the court necessary
to remedy any default, or to resolve any dispute, and is specified in the
order;
(d)
order that a party refrain from any further action of a kind specified in the
order;
(e) by
order—
(i)
alter the articles of the corporation;
(ii)
vary or reverse any decision of the corporation, or of
the management committee of the corporation;
(f) give
judgment on any monetary claim;
(g) make
orders as to costs;
(h) make
any incidental or ancillary orders.
(10) A court should
not make an order to alter the articles of a corporation unless—
(a) the
corporation is a party to the proceedings or the court is satisfied that the
corporation has been given a reasonable opportunity to become a party to the
proceedings; and
(b) if
it appears to the court that the alteration could adversely affect a member of
the corporation who is not a party to the proceedings, the court is satisfied
that the member has been notified of the possibility that such an order could
be made and given a reasonable opportunity to make submissions to the court in
relation to the matter; and
(c) in
any event, the court is satisfied that the order is essential to achieving a
fair and equitable resolution of the matters in dispute.
(11) Where an
application is made under this section and the court is satisfied that an
interim order is justified by the urgency of the case, the court may make an
interim order to safeguard the position of any person pending its final
resolution.
(12) An interim
order—
(a) has
effect for such period as the court may determine and specifies in the order,
and may be renewed by the court from time to time; and
(b) may
be made or renewed whether or not notice of the application has been given to
a respondent; and
(c)
unless sooner revoked, ceases to have effect on the determination or
resolution of an application under this section.
(13) A person who
fails to comply with an order under this section is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Division 7 fine.
(14) The power to make
an order under this section includes the power to vary or revoke an order.
(15) A court may
decline to proceed with an application under this section if it considers that
it would be more appropriate for proceedings to be taken in another court or
tribunal constituted by law.
(16) This section does
not limit or derogate from any civil remedy at law or in equity.
(17) Rules of Court
may be made dealing with any matter necessary or expedient for the effective
and efficient operation of this section.
(18) The rules for a
particular court will be made in the same manner as ordinary rules are made
for that court.
(19) In this
section—
"member" in relation to a strata corporation includes any person who is bound
to comply with the articles of the corporation.